UK: Callista Gingrich introduces Newt to soften his image

The Telegraph

US Election 2012: Newt Gingrich calls on Callista to burnish his tarnished image
Newt Gingrich's wife Callista introduced him as a keen golfer and reader to a conservative conference on Friday, as his campaign made a last-ditch effort to soften his image by bringing her to the fore.
By Jon Swaine

Mrs Gingrich, the third wife of the former House Speaker, paid tribute to the Republican presidential hopeful's homely pursuits during a rare public speech before his appearance at CPAC in Washington.

“Newt loves books,” she told the audience. “We have books in every corner of our home. Newt also has an entire library on his Kindle. I may be the most grateful person in America for this invention.”

Mrs Gingrich, 45, who worked for Mr Gingrich in Congress before marrying him in 2000, told hundreds of Right-wing activists gathered in a hotel ballroom: “Newt is also very supportive”.

“When I sing at the Basilica of the National Shrine or play my French horn with the City of Fairfax Band, he is right there listening,” she said.

The decision to give Mrs Gingrich a more public role comes after her husband slipped to a trio of bad performances this week in caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota and a primary in Missouri.

Having won a remarkable victory in the South Carolina primary last month, the 68-year-old has seen momentum swing once again behind Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator who won all three of this week's contests.

Mr Gingrich's increasingly bitter attacks against Mr Santorum and Mitt Romney, the contest's front-runner, have done little to stabilise his campaign and appear to have repelled some undecided voters.

While Mrs Gingrich has remained almost mute throughout the campaign so far, Ann Romney, the former Massachusetts governor's wife, has energetically campaigned for him around the country.

While Mrs Romney frequently speaks of her husband's loyalty and commitment over 42 years of marriage, the Gingrich team has sought to play down his complex private past, including adultery.

Mrs Gingrich also described her husband as an “enthusiastic and committed golfer" on Friday and appeared to draw a comparison between his sporting abilities and the volatile fortunes of his presidential campaign.

“Newt golfs the way that he does everything: with enthusiasm and determination,” she said. “He’s willing to learn and he never gives up.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9075838/US-Election-2012-Newt-Gingrich-calls-on-Callista-to-burnish-his-tarnished-image.html